Apparatus for removing waxed paper from punched cards



UGC. l5, W7@ R. A. BUCHAKLIAN, JR 3,547,744

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING WAXED PAPER FROM PUNCHED CARDS Filed sept. 18,196e u., 2. muli-W11 l d i .E-

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" Mil FIGB FIGA ROBERT A. BUCHAKLIANJR United States Patent O Int. Cl.B32b U.S. Cl. 156-584 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus isdescribed for expediting the removal of protective waxed paper from aband of cellophane tape surrounding and extending inwardly of anaperture in a punched card preparatory to mounting a microfilm in theaperture by means of the tape. When the card is received in a slot, theaperture in the card lies in register with an aperture in the bottom ofthe slot with a portion of the waxed paper overlapping a separatingedge. When the card is fully inserted, a limit switch is closed toenergize a solenoid which punches the waxed paper free of the cellophanetape and beneath the separating edge where it remains trapped. When thecard is then removed with a normal pulling motion, the waxed paper isseparated from the tape by means of the separating edge without damageto the tape; and the separated waxed paper falls into a conveniencereceptacle.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present invention relates to apparatus forremoving the protective waxed paper from a band of cellophane tapesurrounding and extending inwardly of an aperture in a punched card. Thewaxed paper must be removed preparatory to mounting a microfilm in theaperture by means of the tape.

Heretofore, for low production volumes, the waxed paper was normallyremoved by hand; and the microlm was mounted accurately within theaperture by means of a separate machine. For very large productionvolumes, machines have been built for automatically removing theprotective waxed paper and mounting the microfilm in proper positionwithout the need for handling by an operator. Such machines, however,are expensive; and there has been found to be a need for handling thecards on an intermediate production volume.

The present invention provides a simple and economical machine lwhereinan operator may accomplish the step of removing the protective waxedpaper efliciently and rapidly in comparison with the hand-removaloperation. Further, it has been found that the incidence of damage tothe cellophane tape is greatly reduced by means of the operation of thepresent invention-thus, not only saving time, but also producing asignificant saving in materials.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing whereinidentical reference numerals will refer to like parts in the variousviews.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a completed apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a punched card prior to insertion in theapparatus of FIG. l;

FIGS. 3-4 are detailed views of the plunger head;

FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the apparatus of FIG. l uponinsertion of a punched card; and

FIG. 6 is a simplified circuit schematic of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to FIG. l, there is seen in perspectiveview, a device constructed according to the present invention. Thedevice includes a lower housing or base generally designated 10 whichreceives a drawer or receptacle 11 for collecting the removed wavedpapers. To the top of the housing 10 there is mounted a thin sheet ofplastic material 12 having an upwardly turned forward edge 13; and theplastic member 12 is spaced slightly above the top of the housing 10 totdefine a slot 14 which receives a punched card shown in chain line inFIG. 1 and identified by reference numeral 15. The plastic member 12defines an aperture 17 which is located directly above a correspondingaperture 18 in the top of the housing 10.

Mounted to the sides of the housing 10y and extending above theapertures 17 and 18 is an inverted U-shaped bridge 20, on the top ofwhich is mounted a latching solenoid 21. The latching solenoid 21includes a coil 22 and a plunger 23. The plunger 23 extends entirelythrough the solenoid 21, and at its.` lower end is provided with a punchmember 25 (seen in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4) which has a lowerinclined surface 26 located so as to project through the apertures 17and 18 when the solenoid 21 is energized.

Located at the rear (i.e. the far end as seen in FIG. l) of the slot 14and mounted to the back of the housing 10 is a limit switch equippedwith a movable armature 30i which is engaged by the punched card 15 whenfully inserted. When the limit switch 30 is engaged bythe insertedpunched card, it energizes the solenoid 21 to force the punch memberthrough the apertures `17 and 18. The armature of solenoid 21 may bespring-loaded to return to its top position when switch 30 opens, or itmay be deenergized upon completion of a full stroke so that the armaturewill return to its rest position until the solenoid is again energized.

A typical punched card for use with the present invention is seen inFIG. 2' as comprising a card 33 having left hand portion including aplurality of conventional machine type punches 34 for identification anda rectangular or square aperture 35. Mounted about the top of theaperture 35 is a peripheral band of cellophane tape 37 which is securedto the face of the card and defines an inner peripheral band whichextends slightly within the boundaries of the aperture 35. Mountedwithin the aperture 35 and beneath the peripheral band of cellophanetape 37 is a rectangular (or square) sheet of waxed paper 39', theborders of which are shown by the dashed line 40. When the card 33 isfully inserted, the position of the punch 25 is shown in FIG. 2 by meansof the chain line identified by reference numeral 25.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a detailed viewing of the actionof the punch 25 to separate the waxed paper 39 from the peripheral bandof cellophane tape 37. As shown therein, when the limit switch isenergized (schematically represented by the switch 30a in FIG. 6 whichis coupled in series with the coil 22a of solenoid 21 across aconventional source of supply) the punched member 25 is driven through adownward stroke to the chain line identified by reference numeral 25athus separating a portion of the waxed paper from its associated portionof the cellophane tape 37.

It will be observed in FIG. 5 that when the card 33 is fully inserted,the forward portion of the aperture 18 (identified by reference numeral45 in FIG. 5) extends beneath the waxed paper 39 so that when theplunger separates the waxed paper from the tape, it will first move to aposition shown in chain line and identified by reference numeral 46which is well below the lower surface of the housing 10; and (since itis resilient and still partially secured to the cellophane tape) it willthen return to the position shown in dashed line and identified byreference numeral 47 wherein the trailing edge of the waxed paper 39will be trapped beneath the forward edge 4S of the aperture 1S in thehousing 10. Thus, when the card 33 is removed (by pulling to the rightin FIG. 5) the edge 45 acts as a separating edge to completely removethe waxed paper 39 from the peripheral band of the cellophane tape 37whereafter the waxed paper drops into the drawer 11. In practice, it hasbeen found useful to have the separating edge 45 slightly inclinedtoward the rear of the machine in proceeding from left to right in FIG.1 so as to insure a trapping of the cellophane paper at the right handportion of the aperture.

In operation, the insertion of the card and triggering of the limitswitch 30 operates very much like the action of a time card printingmechanism-that is, a very steady, but not too quick, insertion willclose the limit switch 30. The solenoid 21 is energized and it pushesthe trailing edge of the waxed paper beneath the separating edge 45 ofthe housing where it is trapped. By then removing the card with the samesteadiness of action, the armature of the solenoid is returned and thewaxed paper is completely separated from the peripheral band of tape. Ashas already been mentioned, it has proven to be highly reliable bygreatly lowering the incidence of damage to the peripheral band ofcellophane tape. The card may then be moved to a second machine for theseparate mounting of the microfilm in place of the removed protectivewaxed paper.

Having thus described in detail a specific embodiment of my invention,it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that certainmodifications and substitutions may be made for the specific structureor circuit elements disclosed; and it is, therefore, intended that allsuch modifications and substitutions be covered as they are embracedwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing a sheet of protective waxed paper held in anaperture of a card by means of a peripheral band of cellophane tape,comprising: support means providing a surface for receiving said card insupporting position with said waxed paper on the underside of said tape,said supporting surface defining an aperture partially limited by aseparating edge extending beneath said waxed paper when said card isreceived in a predetermined position on said surface; solenoid meansincluding a plunger defining a lower surface mounted in a first position above said aperture adjacent said separating edge and adapted formovement to a second position beneath said supporting surface forpunching a portion of said waxed paper through said aperture when saidsolenoid means is energized; and limit switch means responsive to theplacement of said card at said predetermined position for energizingsaid solenoid, `whereby said lower surface of said solenoid plunger willengage the waxed paper, separate it from said peripheral band of tape,and force it beneath said separating edge to trap the separated portionof said waxed paper beneath said supporting surface when said solenoidreturns whereupon removal of the card will draw said waxed paper oversaid separating edge to completely separate waxed paper from saidperipheral tape.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said support means further provides ahousing supporting said solenoid means, the upper surface of saidhousing being said supporting surface, and further comprising a memberof sheet material mounted above said supporting surface and definingtherewith a slot for receiving said card, said member also defining anaperture in general register with said aperture of said suportingsurface for permitting reciprocation of said plunger.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a receptacle insertable insaid housing and located beneath said aperture for receiving waxedpapers removed from said cards.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said solenoid means includes anarmature spring-biased in said first position to fully reciprocate fromsaid first position to said second position and back to said firstposition when energized and when said card is removed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,560,301 7/1951 Morrison 156-5842,987,099 6/1951 Williams et al 156-584 3,050,108 S/1962 Hurlbut 156-584SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examiner

